Inkstand



es 31 194%.. L. w. KENDRICK Z Z INKSTAND Filed March 26, 1940 A. YNVENTOR In B BY flaw i rgv ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1940 i PATENT OFFICE INKSTAND Laurence W. Kendrick, Wellesley, Mass., assignor to The Carter's Ink Company, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 26, 1940, Serial No. 325,997

4 Claims.

The invention relates to that type of inkstand in which the ink is raised from out of the body of the stand into a dip-well, into which the pen is dipped, by compressionof air within the ink containing chamber of the stand through distortion of an elastic diaphragm; and, after the filling of the dip-well, atmospheric air is restored through a vent opening to the chamber of the stand for breaking the partial vacuum therein attending the return of the diaphragm to its normal shape,

the vent opening being closed duringthe period that the air within the ink chamber is under pen into the dip-well; and also means for limiting the amount of the pens insertion into the dipwell; i

To provide means by which the diaphragm may be distorted by manual pressure upon the pen holder; and

To provide means forautomatically closing the port opening between the chamber of the inkstand and the atmosphere preliminary to the time that the diaphragm is distorted for compressing the air Within the inkstand; and for automatically clearing the opening to the atmosphere for breaking the vacuum upon the return of the diaphragm to its normal shape.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of an inkstand embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a viewin cross section.

Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the normal disposition of the parts. i

Fig. 4 is a cross section showing the disposition of the parts during the filling of the dip-well.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a modified construction.

Referring to the drawing l represents a common type of ink bottle having an externally threaded neck 2 on which fastens a screw cover (not shown).

It is the body of the bottle which forms the ink containing body of the ink well,- the original cover having been removed and replaced by an attachment as will now be described.

' Resting upon the top edge of theneck 2 of the bottle, or stand, is a discof elastic material, such as rubber, forming a diaphragm 3. The diaphragm is clamped to the neck along its edge portion resting upon the neck, by a clamp 4. This clamp screws on to the threads of the neck like the removed cover. In fact the clamp is like the removed cover, excepting that it is provided with a central opening 5.

Thus fastened the diaphragm 3 will close the 5.

ink containing chamber of the bottle, except for a vent opening to the atmosphere later to be referred to. On account of its elasticity the unclamped central portion of the diaphragm may be displaced or distorted axially in the direction of the chamber of the bottle compressing the air therein, assuming the vent opening to the atmosphere previously referred to is closed.

At its center the diaphragm is provided with a sunken frustro conical socket 6. Below this socket is located a dip-well l, the bottom of the socket being open to the dip-well. Theside wall of the socket has an opening 8 through it which is the vent opening to the atmosphere from out of the 20 socket, dip-well and tube are all-preferably made 25 of rubber molded integral with the diaphragm.

Located upon the upper side of the diaphragm in cooperation with it and the dip-well is an element 12, which, like the diaphragm and associated parts, is madeof rubber. -The body l3 of this ele- 3 ment is generally tubular in form, with bottom I4 made conical to conform to the general contour of the socket 6 in the diaphragm within which it is contained.

The conical end M of the element normally fits 35 rather loosely within the socket 6, and when the end of the element is thuscontained the body of the element extends upwardly through the central opening 5 in the clamp-Mrising well above the clampwhichforms a frame around the element. 40

The arrangement of the element is also preferably such that its body extending through and rising above the clamp will occupy a normal position inclined from thevertical.

The element is maintained in the normal posiwhich, when the element is in its normal position ment.

of rest, engages the under side of the clamp around the opening in it.

On the inside the element is provided with an annular shoulder ll. Above this shoulder, reaching to the top end of the element, its bore [8 is of suificient side to receive the end portion of a pen holder 0., bearing a pen b, the handle being inserted into the element until its end engages the shoulder. With the handle thus contained, the pen 1) extends through the bore I9 of the element and which is of suflicient size to admit of the pas:

permit the passage of the pen through it. The relation between the dip-well and'the; shoulder H- in the element is such that when the end of, the

pen handle is engaging the shoulder, the pen, having passage through the bottom of the: element,

will act as a guide for the pen into the dip-well,

and will limit the amount or the pens insertion into the dip-well, which is determined by the annular shoulder inside the element against which the end of the pen carrying handle has engage- The normally closed bottom end of the element will lie just above the clip-well and accordingly will function as a, dust closure for it, and will prevent the escape of ink in case the stand is overturned. For introducing ink into the dip-well from out of the main ink chamber or reservoir of the bottle or stand the pen handle is brought into contact with the interior shoulder ll of the element andthereupon by manual pressure asserted upon the element through the handle, the element will be appreciably depressed,

the first action being tov bring the bottom end of I the element into contact with the interior wall of the socket 6 in the diaphragm, thus closing the vent opening 8 in the wall of the socket from the atmosphere. Thereupomif the pressure be continued the diaphragm! isv downwardly distorted, thus compressing the air within the ink containing chamber or body of stand, whereupon the ink will be forced up, through the tube l9 and pass into the dip-well. This action may be repeated if the dip-well is not filled with thefirst operation. When the filling of the dip-well is complete pressure upon the element is relieved thereby allowing the diaphragm to resume its normal; shape and the lower end of the element to rise clear of the socket in the diaphragm within which it'iscontained, thus clearing the vent opening 8 to the atmosphere and breaking any partial vacuum that is formed within the ink chamber attending the return of the diaphragm to its normal shape. This vacuum if not broken might act to draw the ink out of the dip-well back through the tube.

In Fig. 5 a slight modification is shown in that the element is not attached or hinged to the diaphragm. Instead the element is fastened to the clamp, and thisby providing the element with annular incision 21, into which fits the edge; of, the clamp around the opening 5 in it, while above the element is provided with an annular flange or head 23,, which laps over on to the upper side ofv the clamp. The element isjthus secured to the clamp with capability of turning thereon. The general form of this modified. structure is the same as before, and its functional operation is substantially the same.

The element will nominally be so positioned that its bottom end will lie contained within the socket 6, in the diaphragm, but clear of the vent opening 8, therein.

When it is desired to fill the dip-well the lower end portion of the element is brought into contact with the wall of the socket, closing the vent opening'and distorting the diaphragm by pressure; exerted through the pen holder upon the sage of the pen. The bottom end of the element is closed except that it is crossed by slits 20 which g element, which tends to distort the lower end portion of the element which is made of rubber sufiiciently elastic to permit of this distortion. When the pressure is relieved the parts will return to their normal position.

I claim:

1. In an, inkstand the combination comprising a body with ink holding chamber, a flexible diaphragm maintained in air tight relation to said chamber for compressing air therein on distortion of said diaphragm, saiddiaphragm having a socket with vent opening therein, a dip-well in open connection with said socket, a tube leading to said dip-well from out of said chamber, an

element arrangedabove said socket with aperture therein for receiving the end of a penholder and admitting of the passage of the pen there-through intosaid dip-well through said socket, means for normally maintaining said element out of contact with said socket and vent opening therein, and means whereby said element may be brought into engagement with said socket closing said vent opening and distorting said diaphragm through manual pressure upon said element by said pen holder.

2. In an inkstand the combination comprising a body with ink holding chamber, a flexible diaphragm maintained in air tight relation to said chamber for compressing air therein on distortion of said diaphragm, said diaphragm having a vent opening, a dip-well integrally connected to said diaphragm and in open communication with the space above said diaphragm, a tube leading to said dip-well from out of said chamber, an element arranged above said diaphragm with aperture therein for receiving the end of a pen holder and admitting of the passage of the pen therethrough into said dip-well, means for normally maintaining said element out of contact with said diaphragm and vent opening, and means whereby said element may be brought into engagement with said diaphragm, closing said vent opening and. distorting said diaphragm through manual pressure upon said element by said pen holder.

3. In an inkstand the combination comprising a, body with ink holding chamber, a flexible diaphragm maintained in air tight relation to said chamber for compressing air therein on distortion of said diaphragm, said diaphragmhaving a vent opening, a dip-well integrally connected to said diaphragm and in open communication with the space above said diaphragm, a tube leading to said dip-well from out of said chamber, an element arranged above said diaphragm with stepped aperture there-through and shoulder arranged for receiving the end of a pen holder to engage said shoulder and admitting of the passage or" the pen borne by said holder there-through intosaid dipwell, means for normally maintaining said element out of contact with said diaphragm and vent opening, and means whereby said element. may be brought into engagement with said diaphragm closing said vent opening and distorting said diaphragm through manual pressure upon said element by said pen holder.

4. In an inkstand the combination comprising a body with ink holding chamber, a flexible diaphragm, a clamp attachable to said body for maintaining said diaphragm in air tight relation to said chamber for compressing air thereini'n distortion of said diaphragm, said diaphragm having a socket with a vent opening thereinfia dip-well connected to said socket and in open communication therewith, a tube leading to said dip-well from out of said chamber, an element arranged above said socket with extension through said clamp, said element having a stepped aperture through it with shoulder arranged forreceiving the end of a pen holder to engage said shoulder and admitting of the passage oi' the pen borne by said holder therethrough into said dip-well through said socket, means for normally maintaining said element out of contact with said socket and vent opening therein, and means whereby said element may be brought into engagement with said socket closing said vent opening and distorting said diaphragm through manual pressure upon said element by said pen holder.

LAURENCE W. KENDRICK. 

